<p>Mumbai: In an unprecedented development, the newly-elected MLAs of the opposition <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/mva">Maha Vikas Aghadi</a> on Saturday staged a walkout from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the first day of the oath ceremony alleging that the BJP-led MahaYuti has swept the polls by way of manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).</p><p>The MVA MLAs, however, are expected to take oath on Sunday, the second day of the brief three-day session. </p><p>The MVA MLAs belonging to the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) walked out, however, the two MLAs of the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party had taken oath.</p><p>In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the ruling side commands a strength of 235 while the three MVA parties 46. </p><p>Pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar is administering the oath to the 287 new members over Saturday and Sunday. </p><p>This would be followed by elections to the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly - which would be a mere formality considering the strength of the Opposition.</p>.Fadnavis-led Maharashtra cabinet expansion likely on December 11 or 12.<p>This is for the first time in the history of Maharashtra, that there would not be a Leader of the Opposition - as for claiming the post, a party needs to have 10 per cent seats. In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, 10 per cent is 28.8 (or 29 seats). Shiv Sena (UBT) has the highest 20 seats followed by Congress 16 and NCP (SP) 10.</p><p>MVA leaders gathered near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to explain their stance.</p><p>“Despite the BJP alliance forming the government after the state assembly elections, the public sentiment is that this government does not reflect their votes. It is not a government of the people's mandate. The sentiment of the people in Markadwadi village mirrors that of the majority in the state,” state Congress President Nana Patole said. </p><p> "We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs. This is not the mandate of the public, it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India," said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who is the leader of the legislature party. </p>.<p>“The ruling alliance has an undemocratic attitude and reiterated demands for elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs,” said NCP (SP) group leader Dr Jitendra Awhad. </p><p>"The results have raised questions, the entire process seems tainted. People are unhappy, and something appears wrong," alleged Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar.</p><p>From the ruling side, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said: "There is no point in making such allegations here. The Opposition should go to the Election Commission and if they do not get justice there, they should approach the court.”</p>
<p>Mumbai: In an unprecedented development, the newly-elected MLAs of the opposition <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/mva">Maha Vikas Aghadi</a> on Saturday staged a walkout from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the first day of the oath ceremony alleging that the BJP-led MahaYuti has swept the polls by way of manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).</p><p>The MVA MLAs, however, are expected to take oath on Sunday, the second day of the brief three-day session. </p><p>The MVA MLAs belonging to the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) walked out, however, the two MLAs of the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party had taken oath.</p><p>In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the ruling side commands a strength of 235 while the three MVA parties 46. </p><p>Pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar is administering the oath to the 287 new members over Saturday and Sunday. </p><p>This would be followed by elections to the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly - which would be a mere formality considering the strength of the Opposition.</p>.Fadnavis-led Maharashtra cabinet expansion likely on December 11 or 12.<p>This is for the first time in the history of Maharashtra, that there would not be a Leader of the Opposition - as for claiming the post, a party needs to have 10 per cent seats. In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, 10 per cent is 28.8 (or 29 seats). Shiv Sena (UBT) has the highest 20 seats followed by Congress 16 and NCP (SP) 10.</p><p>MVA leaders gathered near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to explain their stance.</p><p>“Despite the BJP alliance forming the government after the state assembly elections, the public sentiment is that this government does not reflect their votes. It is not a government of the people's mandate. The sentiment of the people in Markadwadi village mirrors that of the majority in the state,” state Congress President Nana Patole said. </p><p> "We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs. This is not the mandate of the public, it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India," said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who is the leader of the legislature party. </p>.<p>“The ruling alliance has an undemocratic attitude and reiterated demands for elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs,” said NCP (SP) group leader Dr Jitendra Awhad. </p><p>"The results have raised questions, the entire process seems tainted. People are unhappy, and something appears wrong," alleged Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar.</p><p>From the ruling side, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said: "There is no point in making such allegations here. The Opposition should go to the Election Commission and if they do not get justice there, they should approach the court.”</p>